Cat Ba travel experience

The convergence between the forest and the sea, Cat Ba is the ideal destination for families every summer. To avoid the situation “not to know whether to laugh or cry”, the following information would be useful luggage for your trip to Cat Ba.



Transport

From Ha Noi to Cat Ba:

If you start from Ha Noi and haven’t got your own car, you should buy a ticket of many bus companies in Luong Yen bus station. The ticket fare about 65,000 – 70,000 VNĐ (~ 3 USD) to take you from Ha Noi to the Tam Bac station (in Hai Phong City). From the Tam Bac, you can catch the bus to Dinh Vu ferry, or can go to the No 4 – Le Thanh Tong street (it is the address of Hoang Long transportation) and buy a ticket to Cat Ba. At Dinh Vu port, maybe you swich to the high speed cruise and it take 25-30 minutes to Cat Ba island. If you don’t like to use cruise, you can use ferry to go to Cai Vieng port, and then catch coach to the Cat Ba center. Always keep in mind, there are a lot of ferry trips from Dinh Vu to Cat Ba, it starts at 5 AM and finishes at 5 PM everyday.

From Cat Ba to Ha Noi:

There are two high-speed ships from Cat Ba to Binh station at 6.00 AM and 14.30 PM and then go to bus station and catch the bus to come back Ha Noi. Remember you must go to Cai Vieng port before 17.00 PM to ferry to Ha Noi.

Sleeping

Cat Ba has dozens of hotels, in all price categories. Many are tall, thin ugly concrete numbers painted all shades of a faded rain- bow, but some better options are starting to emerge. Most hotels are situated on (or just off) the waterfront in Cat Ba Town and have at least one staff member who speaks English. For more of a back-to-nature scene there are a couple of beachfront options close to Cat Ba Town, including one on a private island. Room rates fluctuate greatly. In the high- season summer months (June to August) you can expect to pay a minimum of US$15 per room; rates sink to below US$10 for a decent room outside this time. The rates given here are for low season. Peak season rates are im- possible to determine as hotel owners tend to pick a number out of their head depending on demand.
There are many hotels are rated highly: Hoang Ngoc Hotel, Sea & Sun Hotel, Holiday View,….

What to Do?

Bathing

Come to Cat Ba, visitors can not fail to the famous beaches in the island. The beach is only a few hundred meters from the hotel. About twenty minutes to take walks along the coast and then through a small canyon, visitors have come to beaches Cat Co 1. Standing on beach looking down, visitors to easily find a sandy beach by the water’s edge year-round tilt whispering surf.

Looking afar, toward the end of the beach, a small bridge to connect beach beaches Cat Co 1 and Cat Tien as silk squeezed through the mountains. Go across the bridge to Cat Tien beach, crab crossing obscured the mountain, a new patch of sky is open and a beautiful beach wild mix out front.

Here, visitors can swimming, relaxing sun and enjoy the fresh breeze blowing in from the ocean.

Will be missing if not to the beaches Cat Co 3. This is the latest tourist Cat Ba Island. Cat Co 3 beach is quite nice and built modern tourist service here is perfect from the beach, rest, eat and drink.

Visiting the islands

Cat Ba has many small tourist boat tours take visitors on the sea, marine tourism service here is quite good. Guests only need to notify the hotel where they can leave the ship to visit Cat Ba.

Long, Cat Ba is known for Lan Ha Bay-Bay is located in Ha Long Bay populations, if traveling on Lan Ha Bay scenery of mountains, sea, certainly gives visitors many amazing However, interesting.

Note: Cruise the beautiful Lan Ha Bay and bathing in the bay, the waves calm but there are many rocks, so you will very easily scratched legs and knees.

Traveling on Lan Ha Bay usually comes at Ben Beo, also comes right at the dock when each region at the request of visitors. Just over 20 minutes, at sea, the ship will take visitors to Monkey Island. Actually this is the Pineapple Cat Island-an island located on the Lan Ha Bay, in recent years, Cat Ba National Park and Forest Cat Hai district has put a new monkey on this island should be so named. When introduced on live with nature but also very close to people, they love playing with tourists. Pineapple Cat is the ideal bathing place. Here blue water and a clean, finished after swimming to shore lying on the sand enjoy the sun, it is interesting.

Cat Ba National Forest

For many years, Cat Ba National Park is an eco-tourist attractions and is particularly attractive for tourists who like adventure. Park has 4,500 hectares of primary forest are often mixed flora of broad-leaved forest, coniferous and broad-leaved evergreen closed forest tropical limestone karst development. Park has a variety of animals, rare plants, it is a place preserving genetic variety.

Unique point of the park is up to 22 species recorded in Vietnam Red Book and 6 species recorded in the red world. In some animals recorded in the world, the Red Cat Ba National Park is the first white langurs, this species is endemic to Cat Ba.

The tour to Cat Ba National Park this season often brings travelers a new feel. From Cat Ba town, only a few dozen feet away on the open road on to the garden door. The car, visitors can zoom around eyes, sucked in to receive fresh air of the mountains.

What to Eat?

Seafood is rich in Cat Ba fresh tu particularly successful comedy raised on the island. In addition, there are special forest equally delicious and attractive.

Sam 7 items

Dishes taste delicious sea, just unique, naturally, always ensure fresh. Marine Sam processing many different foods such as pudding, salad, sweet and sour foot pole sam, sam sao discharge peppers, fried eggs or nests sam guise leaves, steamed crabs, crab fried breaded, baked cartilage sam, sam acres of sorghum … The food is delicious crab meat and unique.

Tu Hai

Tu Hai more food processing such as baking, salad, porridge … the processing as follows: snout otter soaked 2 to 3 minutes in a pot of hot water around 80-90 degrees, then wash the outer shell, then content varies slightly along the slit of the nozzle. From the tap at the meat delicious comedy, long, long, soft and sweet. From comedy to delicious dishes depends on a lot of spices such as garlic, shallots are shredded, then fried oil, chopped onion and mix, then dip in fish sauce, glutamate, pepper …

Special mention must be steamed dishes from comedy. After steaming for 15 minutes, for two to a disc, snout otter scent mingled with the smell of spices fascination. Make decorations to ingenious comedy Tu appetizer dish cool and attractive. From comedy to eat just steamed dishes just cool bar, with its own sweet aftertaste. Steamed meat from brittle comedy, mingled with the smell of aromatic spices tingle.

Grouper

Grouper is a fish of warm waters, the Pacific Ocean up to 37 species. In our country there are about 30 species including several species of high economic value. The Cat She has three kinds of fatty fish song, song song black and statements. Data grouper is fish feeding animals and high nutritional value. From Grouper people processing more tasty, nutritious, such as salad, soup, hot pot, steamed, sauce, grilled …

Five most popular dishes of Nha Trang

Being a coastal city and the capital of Khanh Hoa province on the South Central Coast of the country, Nha Trang is one of the most attractive destinations for international tourists in Vietnam. Nha Trang is not only famous for the pristine beaches and excellent scuba diving, but also for its special delicacies.

Here are 5 must-try foods list for people first coming to Nha Trang:

1. Lac Canh’s Grilled Beef:



The secret of making perfect grilled beef lies on the recipe of mixing beef with honey and more than ten kinds of spices. The recipe is handed down from generation to generation, and only known to specific members of restaurant owner’s family. Customers are free to grill the beef and enjoy the dish in their own way.
Lac Canh’s grilled beef is so favored by tourists that it appears in many famous international travel guides.
Where to try:
Han Hon Minh restaurant (opened since 1963)- 44 Nguyen Binh Khiem- Nha Trang- Khanh Hoa.

2. Rice vermicelli with grilled fish and jellyfish- Bun cha ca:



It’s “bun cha ca” broth, which is made from boiled sailfish and mackerel’s bones, that determines the exclusive taste of this specialty. Different from the fatty boiled pork bones’ broth; “bun cha ca” broth is sweet and savory, especially suitable for people who are going on a diet. A bowl of Nha Trang’s “bun cha ca” also contained jellyfish and steamed sailfish.
Where to try:
Bun ca Nam Beo- Block B2- Phan Boi Chau- Nha Trang- Khanh Hoa

3. Lang Chai’s Seafood:



Before visiting Hon Tam, Bai Soi or Bai Mini beaches, tourists are advised to drop in Lang Chai to buy some seafood. Customers can choose fresh seafood which is raised in cage under the sea by their own hand. After that, people will sail to nearby restaurant by ferry, where seafood will be immediately prepared and cook. On mainland, tourists can consume fresh seafood at reasonable price at Chieu Anh Restaurant.
Where to try:
Chieu Anh Restaurant- 86 Tran Phu- Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa

4. Banh can- “Can” cake



Sitting around the warm fire of coal brazier, watching the cook skillfully pouring flour into moulds , and then enjoying hot “banh can” in a windy day is an unforgettable experience for anyone when in Nha Trang.
“Banh can” is a popular snack in Central and Southern regions of Vietnam, including rice flour, lard, spring onion and eggs. The cakes are sold in pair, and served with special sweet and sour dipping sauce made from Nha Trang’s famous fish sauce, and raw vegetables.
Where to try:
Crossroad of Le Thanh Ton and Nguyen Thien Thuat Street

5. Grilled fermented pork roll- Nem Nuong:



When mentioning Nha Trang cuisines, we definitely cannot neglect grilled fermented pork roll, also known as Ninh Hoa’s or Nha Trang’s fermented pork roll. We can eat fermented pork roll fresh (nem chua”) or grilled (“nem nuong”). However, most of the tourists will choose “nem nuong” to enjoy in Nha Trang, and buy “nem chua” as the gifts for family at home. Grilled directly with the fire of coal brazier, fermented pork roll is served with raw herbs as well as dipping sauce with pickled green papaya.
Where to try:
Nem Nuong Vu Thanh An- 15 Le Loi- Nha Trang- Khanh Hoa. The restaurant is crowded with customers from late afternoon till midnight..

Hue backpacking tour travel experience

Hue was a source of inspiration for many poets and literary men who made poetry to praised Hue. Hue is very nice, poetic and Hue has many attractions, heritage as well as many delicious dishes … it’s hard for you to understand Hue in just one visit.



1. Best time to visit Hue:

In Hue, the dry season from March to August, it is so hot and muggy, the temperature has reached 35-40 degrees C. August to January is the rainy season, which from October onwards the flood season, average temperature 20 degrees C, sometimes down to 9 degrees C. Spring lasts from January to February.

Also time of the Hue Festival (a festival of arts and culture, tourism-scale national and international first in Vietnam) is one thing you should consider.

If you are one who has to go, and more or less known to Hue, then go to the festival or not is not important.

If a person is completely alien to the Hue Festival is probably the most reasonable chance. Because not only will you be a more poetic Hue, which will also learn, discover the unique culture here through books, pictures will not be felt by all.

2. Transport

- From Hanoi to Hue: a Vietnam Airlines flight.

- From Ho Chi Minh City to Hue: Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific both have flights

- Also you can take the train or high-quality beds.

3. Hotels and inns in Hue

You can reach the area of ​​Le Loi, Ngo Quyen, Ly Thuong Kiet, Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hung Vuong street is the center to the hotel. Prices for a double room in Hue is of 200,000 or more, depending on type and depending your needs.

4. Address to visit playing in Hue

- When to Hue, you can rent motorcycles at prices ranging from 80 to 120 thousand dollars to explore the ancient capital city and many places around the city. The tourist destination as far as the Thien Mu Pagoda, Tu Duc Tomb, Minh Mang, Khai Dinh … just the city center from 5 to 15 km to the travel of the day quite nicely.

- In addition to motorcycles, you can go around the cycle, and the Citadel in Hue Heng. Price levels and low cyclo drivers here are often enthusiastic about the tourist attractions and shops, renowned restaurants.

Without Lang Co sea conditions near 70 km to Hue, you can get to Thuan An, Hue City and 12 km. These pristine beaches, blue water, white sand and clean. From downtown, you can hire a taxi or bus for $ 6,000 to close the beach, then walk about 10 minutes out to sea.

- On the road from Thuan An sea to the city, you come to eat mussels and oysters walk the path of Han Mac Tu in Vi Da Ward dreaming. In the cool afternoon, sitting watching the river from the garden cafe old Vi Da is suggested interesting to you.

At night, you can buy tickets on the boat and ca Hue flower drop lights on the Perfume River. Each ticket to hear folk music and walking on the river cost around 80,000 VND to 120,000 VND.

-Visit the XQ gallery at 49 Le Loi, a large space, a marina looking the river and the beautiful embroidered pieces.

- I want you to hire cabs run neighborhood near the Citadel at night to eat and enjoy the typical dishes of Hue.

- In the area near the Hue Citadel has many famous tailors dress, you can come here to buy fabric, may put in a day.

- You can buy all kinds of gifts such as tea at Le Royal Order, pulses and sesame cakes at Dong Ba market for a gift for friends and relatives.

5. Hue Special

- Hue food delicious and very cheap but eat what and how, where?

- Local Hang Me in 12 Vo Thi Sau: the filter cakes as cakes, biscuits, dirt, bread years, little cakes, shrimp ball, nem chua ….

- The Thao Nhi Nickname: dry fog roll, and mixed vegetables crab mix, Com Nieu Frog …

- Asthma (in the shop right foot to the left of the road from Ung Binh Nguyen Sinh Cung in turn, through the Vi Da Xua shop about 50 meters): mussels cooked rice, noodles and mussels, corn tea

- British District in K52 Kim Long: wet cake barbecue, barbecue bun

- Mother in 64 Ba Trieu Quan: Bun mam nem call the two kinds of clutter or re-feed cows are tasty, copy

- Number 11 Pho Duc Chinh: nem lui, wheel blocks

- Tea at 26 Hung Vuong Street Canyon: the type of tea in the tea dishes including roast very interesting

- Local foothills: on the way up the hill hope there are many delicious scenes

- Vi Da Quan Xua, some of the types consistent with “members”, have a more consistent at the right side in the great content to sit close to the gates into the like as well as garden architecture. When the Hue, make sure you drink a glass of lemonade, you’ll never forget where you there.

How to call Vietnam from the United States

Instructions

1. Determine what time it is in Vietnam before you call. It will be 15 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, and 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States.



2. Dial 011, the international access code.

3. Dial 84, the country code for Vietnam.

4. Dial the city code for the city you wish to call. Some codes for major cities include 8 for Ho Chi Minh and 4 for Hanoi.

5. Dial the remaining digits.

Tips & Warnings

If you follow these steps but still can’t connect, dial 00 and ask the international operator to help you place the call.

It can be very expensive to call long-distance during business hours, so try to make your phone calls in the evenings and on weekends.

Ham Rong Mountain – Sapa

Ham Rong Mountain is right in Sapa Town. The mountain is home to some stunning orchid gardens and “rock gardens”. From Ham Rong Mountain, we can have the best view of Sapa and the surrounding fresh nature including Mount Fansipan.

To travel to Ham Rong Mountain, you follow the road by the church in the center of Sapa Town to the end and take the left turn, then continue hiking up the gradient leading to Ham Rong Mountain. The tour to Ham Rong Mountain will not be a complete experience unless you have completed the orchid gardens, the rock gardens, the panoramic view of Sapa from the top of Ham Rong and the performance of  ethnic traditional music by the local boys and girls. Ham Rong Mountain is also the starting point of some of Paradissa’s Vietnam trekking tours.

How to get a student Visa in Vietnam

Vietnam is a socialist republic located between Laos and China on the coast of the Gulf of Tonkin. According to the official website of the U.S. State Department, relations between America and Vietnam have grown increasingly warmer. The U.S. has a consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnam has a consulate general in San Francisco. Vietnam, with its fascinating culture and history, attracts many visitors. Most visitors arrive on a tourist visa, but they can switch to another type of visa after arriving in the country. Getting a student visa in Vietnam is fairly simple.

1. Enroll in classes as a student in Vietnam. The easiest way to do this is to enroll in classes to study the Vietnamese language. You must be enrolled in a school. You cannot simply study with a private tutor.

2. Ask the school in which you are enrolled to provide you with formal documentation that you are a student there–perhaps a receipt. Ideally, your documentation should show how long you plan to stay in Vietnam.

3. Visit the Vietnam immigration department website vnimm.gov.vn. Click on “English.” Click on “Samples for Foreign Immigration.” Click on “Application of visa renewal, replacement or modification, length of stay extension.”

4. Print the application and complete it by hand, writing in your passport number and your length of stay and explaining why you want to change your visa type to a student visa.

5. Take the application to the immigration department along with your passport, two passport-size photos, proof of study from your school and the application fee. There are immigration departments in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. The application fee will range from $25 to $85, depending on how quickly you need your visa.

Tips & WarningsAccording to the website vietnam-visa.com, here are the addresses for immigration departments in Vietnam:

• Hanoi: No. 40A Hang Bai Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi


• Da Nang: No. 7 Tran Quy Cap Str., Da Nang


• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): No. 254 Nguyen Trai Str., Dist.1, Ho Chi Minh City

How to tour from Hanoi to Hue

Vietnam’s focus on the environmental harmony of feng shui (or “phong thuy”) lends the nation an unusual sense of balance, of opposites comfortably at home together. Keep this balance in mind and be kind to the environment while touring the quiet country villages and the noisy cities, which are unlikely but somehow harmonious neighbors. Temples and pagodas built on the principles of feng shui abound throughout Hue and Hanoi. A temple, like a western monument, is built to honor figures from history or society, while a pagoda is typically a place of worship. Get the most from a tour of the region by seeing many of both and by embracing both sides of the Vietnamese city-country dichotomy.

1. Decide whether you prefer the ease of a guided tour or the adventure of going on your own. Planning varies depending on the option you choose, so decide carefully.

2. Decide how many days you want to spend between the two cities. Most guidebooks recommend at least a couple of days per city. Think about how each city appeals to you and make a list of attractions you want to see. If you prefer the bustle of the city, you may want to set aside more time for Hanoi, or vice versa.

3. Determine your travel style. Are you a budget traveler with a sense of adventure or a luxury traveler who likes to stay in style, for example. Answer these questions to determine where you stay, what you do and how much you spend.

4. Select an appropriate option for your tour. A number of tour companies will take care of the details for you; most guided tours of Vietnam include Hanoi and Hue along with other cities. If you want to spend more time visiting the entire country, it booking a guided tour is easier. Signature Travel Asia offers an abundance of options, including the “Best of Vietnam” tour, which includes four days in Hanoi and two days in Hue (along with a few days in Saigon, Sapa and other locales). Highlights include a cycle through Hanoi to see the Old Quarter, One Pillar Pagoda, the National History Museum, morning tai chi and shopping in Dong Ba market. Signature Travel Asia offers a variety of tours of Vietnam that vary in length from 12 to 21 days. Luxury Travel Vietnam also offers tours, which vary depending on your interests. Luxury Travel offers a cultural heritage tour, a culinary tour, a romantic honeymoon tour and an adventure tour, all with stops in Hanoi and Hue. For off-the-beaten-path tours, try Lotussia Active Vacations, with motorbike and cycling tours between Hanoi and Hue.

5. Book your chosen tour online or over the phone. Most companies require at least a 30 percent deposit to reserve a tour, so use your credit card to book.

6. Check your tour’s details carefully as some tours include more extras than others. With most tours, bring extra money for some meals and souvenirs. Book a flight from your hometown to the tour’s departure city, along with a cab, bus or train from the airport to the meet-up point (unless your tour company arranges that transportation for you).

7. Pack your bags. Even on a guided tour, buy a good Vietnam guidebook and browse through it on your way, learning about the culture and attractions of Hanoi and Hue. The more informed you are before you go, the richer your experience will be.

8. Plan your trip. If you prefer to go without a tour group, do a bit more planning. Decide what activities are important to you. Invest in a good guidebook (like “Lonely Planet”) and do some research. Plan which attractions are the most important: art galleries and museums in Hanoi, for example, or culinary exploration in Hue or shopping and historical landmarks. Set aside time to see what you want to see.

9. Book hotel stays. For hotels in Hanoi and Hue, try websites like landingvietnam.com or waytovietnam.com, which provide reasonable prices for the five-star and two-star traveler.

10. Reserve transportation for the trip from Hanoi to Hue. Make careful decisions about how you wish to travel. The roads between Hanoi and Hue are notoriously treacherous, so driving is not for everyone. Bus fare is reasonably priced, but hectic driving conditions and a long trip (about 17 hours between cities) often tire travelers. Trains travel from Hanoi to Hue nightly, and the trip takes about 14 hours. For a quicker trip, book a flight. Vietnam Airlines has connecting flights from Hanoi to Hue daily, and you can book tickets ahead of time or upon arrival in Vietnam through your hotel’s concierge.

11. Budget your funding for meals, travel about-town and incidentals. Bring enough to get around. Costs in Vietnam are relatively low. Bus fares are typically about $5, and food costs vary from $5 and up per meal (in fall of 2010).

12. Pack your bags, and go. Traveling on your own through Vietnam will be an adventure. Bring your guidebook, maps and travel information such as booking confirmations.

Experience the culinary treats of Hanoi and Hue, but be careful about hygiene. Tourists can get sick from improperly prepared or unusual foods, so eat only from restaurants that are recommended. See your guidebook for more information on where to dine.

Visa requirements for Canadians going to Vietnam

As a Canadian going to Vietnam, you must be aware of the Visa requirements for travellers from your country. Since countries have different regulations for visitors depending upon their home nation, there are rules you must know and documents you must have before travelling. The last thing you want is to arrive at the border without a document or paperwork that you didn’t know you needed.

Types of visitors who need visas

All Canadians must obtain a Visa to enter Vietnam. A visa is needed for visitors who come for business, tourism or as a student. Failure to obtain one will result in being barred access to the country. Most tourist visas are obtained for a single entry and exit.

How to obtain a visa

Canadian nationals have several options for applying for a visa. One is to visit the Vietnam embassy in Canada, in Ottawa, to apply for a visa. If that is a too far to travel, you can apply by mail with the embassy of Vietnam as early as six months prior to travel.

Applying for the visa

If you apply by mail, there are several items to include with your application. You must include your original passport, or a copy of the passport in certain situations where urgency is required. You must also include a 2-by-2-inch headshot photo, a self-addressed stamped envelope and the appropriate fees. Visit the Vietnamese embassy’s website for current information.

Other travel documents needed with your visa

You must also have a valid passport to travel in Vietnam. No other document, such as a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, is valid. The passport must be valid for at least one month beyond your expected departure from the country.

Additional Precautions

Always check with the Vietnamese embassy before traveling to see if guidelines have changed. Rules and regulations are constantly changing. It is the responsibility of the traveller to stay informed of these changes and to make the proper arrangements.

Tips on bringing your pets to Vietnam

The following instructions are exclusively for cats and dogs travel and certainly much more straightforward than that expected. Don’t waste your time and money for agencies or departments who may actually never have been to Vietnam themselves before . Pet owners only need a veterinary certificate and their pets’ inoculation records and the other requirement related to the certificate varies depending on your airlines. For example, if you flight from the United States, a health certificate is required to be signed within 10 days of travel.



The process consists of three main steps as follows:
Step 1:
The pet is obliged to be vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days ahead of travel to Vietnam and no more than a year before travel. Next, download the veterinary certificate and have your accredited veterinarian fill in the form to certify that the pet is healthy, free of parasites and there is no sign of diseases transmittable to humans.
Step 2:
Attach the “Pet’s Inoculation Record” to the “Veterinary Certificate”.
Pet’s Inoculation Record is a record of all vaccinations injected to the pet, including information about the name, the manufacture and the lot or batch number of the vaccine, not to mention the date of vaccine administration and expiration, if any. Apart from the rabies vaccination which is required, other vaccines are optional. Follows are some vaccines recommended for dogs and cats.
Dog: Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Para Influenza.
Cat: Distemper, Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Leukemia, and Rabies.
Step 3:
Upon arrival in Vietnam, you are required to present the mentioned documents (the veterinary certificate and Pet’s Inoculation Record) to the immigration officer after taking your pets at the place that you get your checked in luggage. After checking the documents, they will let you and your pets leave the airport.
Special Note:
- There is no quarantine period upon your arrival in Vietnam.
- Your pet will be put in a crate during the flight, so it is advised to set a crate up inside your house and put your pets into the crate a few hours a day prior to the flight to make them get used to the crate. Don’t drug your pets as it is not good for their health.
- The procedures to take your pet out of Vietnam are quite similar. You must have your pets vaccinated and contact your airlines and the country of destination to ask for other requirements you need to follow.

Travel tips for visitors during Hue festivals

With the coming back of Hue Festival to mark the national tourism year 2012, Hue is entering the most amazing time, when tourists from all over the world are flooding into the city to celebrate the event. How can you make the most of your time and money when coming to this former imperial capital of Vietnam. Here are a few tips for you to keep in mind:

Hue festival 2012

Getting in and out

From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, passengers can approach Hue by bus, air, train or even by motorbikes, a speciality of Vietnam transportation.

By train

Tickets on the Reunification Express Train from Hanoi to Hue should cost between $25 and 45 (ticket price varies based on seating options) , and from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue between $35 and $60. Hue train station is a straight 40 minute walk to most of backpacker hotels, the best of which are listed under ‘Accommodation’ below.

Ticket can be directly purchased from railway station office or online. Travellers are advised to bring water bottles enough for drinking and washing hands. Fast food is another recommendation in case meals offered by train officer may not suit your taste.

By bus

The times around Vietnamese holidays are particularly flooded with ticket bookings and tickets cannot be assumed available for same day travel, so book ahead if possible.

One of the most reliable and foreigner-friendly open bus ticket services is The Sinh Tourist. Its offices are located near backpacker havens in Hanoi (40 Luong Ngoc Quyen St., Hoan Kiem Dist. and 64 Tran Nhat Duat St.). Tourists coming to Hue from Ho Chi Minh City can reach to 246-248 De Tham St. Dist.1 and 24-26 Pho Duc Chinh St., Dist. 1 for bus ticket.

Buying bus tickets from the bus station may not be a wise choice, as they are sold out quickly when the Festival is approaching, and some private bus operators are not clear about prices. Count on a good travel agency to snap up tickets first to you.

By air

For those interested in getting to Hue by airplane, Vietnam Airlines is only one among many options. Beware that their tickets are usually sold out very quickly before the festival time. Another choice is Jetstar, which operates two flights a day from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Hue. Booking online conveniently is available from both carriers.

Hue airport is 15 kilometers away from the city center and a ride by taxi between the two points should cost no more than 180,000VND by taxi.

If plane tickets from those above cities to Hue are sold out, opt for Da Nang as the intermediary destination, as it has more connections. From Da Nang to Hue with distance of 112 km, taxi fare is around USD40 and prestigious taxi groups such as Mai Linh, Thanh Hung are recommended.

Accommodation in Hue in festival time

With a wide range of accommodation facilities in Hue, you don’t have to worry about rooms being fully booked. There are plenty of budget traveler hotels and mid-range hotels, as well as a couple of hotel splurge on offer. The largest cluster is around the short lane of Pham Ngu Lao (including Le Loi, Hung Vuong, Chu Van An, Nguyen Cong Tru).

Some top choices of Hue accommodation available are as follows:

For budget ones, Hue Backpacker’s Hostel, 10 Pham Ngu Lao Street, (from US$6), Bamboo Hotel, 61 Hung Vuong (from US$10) and Bao Son Hotel, 39 Nguyen Cong Tru (from US$10) may be what you are looking for.

Mid-range ones can be considered are Hanh Dat Hotel, 15 Pham Van Dong St. Vy Da, Thua Thien Hue (from US$25), New Star Hotel, 36 Chu Van An street (from US$45), and Thai Y Hotel Hue, No 10 Pham Van Dong (from US$17-35).

For splurge one, La Residence, 5 D Le Loi (walking distance from the train station) (from US$136) and Saigon Morin, 30 Le Loi Street (from US$100) can be good choices.

Get Around

Like other Vietnamese cities, Hue is flooded with various means of transportations, namely taxi, motor bike and bicycle for hire and cyclo.

By Taxi

Usually taxi trips start at 15,000 dong for the first 2km and tick upward at 11,500 dong/km. Some well-established taxi brands are Mai Linh, Thành Đô and Thành Hưng. Make sure you will not take an unlicensed one or you maybe overcharged beyond your imagination.

By Bike

During the peak hours of the festival, taxis may not always be available. Your safe bet is to hire a motorbike, which are available for $5/day from hotels and shops and join the locals as they swarm across the bridges and along the main roads at a leisurely pace.

Cycling is also a good option, with plenty of bikes available for $1/day. Shops that hire motor bikes and bicycles are located along Hung Vuong street and the backpacker haven surrounding Pham Ngu Lao and Chu Van An street.

By Cyclo

Be prepared to haggle for reasonable prices and if possible, agree absolutely on your price before you go. The generally acceptable price is 50,000 VND per hour, and make sure that you’re agreeing on Dong, not USD, as some cyclo drivers are dishonest and will secretly charge you USD instead of Dong.

Prepare your bargaining skill

There are abundant pretty things available for tourists to choose, most of them are handy craft things and for those who are interested in gastronomy, street food in Hue is worth a try. However, the merchants there tend to quote price indiscriminately and therefore as a rule of thumb, don’t be afraid to negotiate down to ½ to 1/3 of the quoted price.

Best time to visit Vietnam

Think Vietnam and you might imagine a steamy jungle and hot sun — and you’d be mostly right. But even though Vietnam is tropical, you’ll find a real range, from chilly mountaintops and cool highland areas to sun-drenched coastline and, yes, that steamy jungle, too, laced with the swampy rivers you’ve seen in movies.

Opposing monsoon seasons in the north and south mean that seasonal changes are different in north, central, and south Vietnam. The good news for travelers is that this means it’s always high season somewhere in Vietnam, and the tropical south is always warm. Vietnam can be broken into three distinct geographical and climatic zones as follows: north, central, and south.



The north is cooler than the rest of the country. Winter months, from November until January, can be quite cool, especially in mountainous areas. Northern temperatures range from 60°F to 90°F (16dg]C-32°C). If you are going far north to Sapa or Dien Bien Phu along the China/Laos border, be sure to bring one extra layer of warmth (a pullover will do); near Sapa is Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest point, and there is even the occasional freeze and snow at this altitude. Hanoi, the capital and in the north, as well as nearby coastal regions around Haiphong and Halong Bay, experience relatively high humidity year-round and a rainy season from May to October. Winter months are cool (as low as 57°F/14°C) and somewhat damp, but the heat starts to pick up in April and makes for a hot, wet summer (many Hanoians get out of town, to the mountain towns or nearby beaches off Haiphong or Vinh). The best time to visit the north, though cold in midwinter, is from November to the end of April.

The Central Coast follows an opposing monsoon pattern to the north, with warmer weather during the July-to-October high season on, and wet, colder weather from November to May. Coastal Vietnam — Quy Nhon and Nha Trang — experiences steamy temperatures like the far south (70°F-90°F/21°C-32°C), but coastal wind can have a cooling effect. Raging storms and frequently large typhoons strike the coast in summer months, from July to November; often during this season, the surf is too rough for swimming.

The Central Highlands, just inland and on the southern end of the Annamese Cordillera range, receives nearly double the rainfall of the national average, and this plateau, in towns like Dalat and Pleiku, is cool throughout the year.

The south, the region around Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, is steamy hot year-round with only periods of rainy and dry weather. Temperatures range from 70°F to 90°F (21°C-32°C), with a hot, dry period from March to May seeing temperatures in the 90s (30s Celsius). Summers are hot, humid, and rainy.

Because of the regional variations in weather, a part of the country is seasonable at any time of year. Most travelers in Vietnam trace a north-south or south-north route with flights connecting on either end (or adding continued travel to Cambodia or China). Depending on the duration of your stay, you can plan to “follow” the good weather, hitting Saigon in February or March and tracing warmer weather up the coast.

Note: Avoid travel during the Tet holiday in January and February. Tet is a Christmas and New Year’s celebration rolled into one, and anyone and everyone is going “over the river and through the woods” to their respective grandmother’s house. Transport is always fully booked. Unless you’re lucky enough to enjoy Tet with a Vietnamese family, be forewarned: During this time, many travelers find themselves stranded, hotels completely full, and roadways crowded with traffic and revelers.

Five reasons to travel to Vietnam

Most people think of Vietnam as a war. But the old history has all gone. Now peace and safety resides. It’s opening to the world as a friendly and exotic place on earth to be.



So why don’t you think of coming. I’ll name some of the reasons why you should:

1. It’s a new place. It’s not touristy like in Thailand and many places you go, people go stunned by your appearance.

2. It’s safe and friendly. The majority of people in Vietnam are farmers. Pure farmers. Many of them have never learnt of much apart from the village they were born in. Naturally, they’re almost all friendly safe to be around. Moreover, the communist government does a good job in ensuring securities all over the country. Nothing of a crime has happened to tourists anymore for the last a decade.

3. Its has lots to see: A thin country stretching for thousands of Km from North to South. It has beautiful mountain with colorful hill tribes. It has highlands with their everlasting rudimentary traditions. It has beaches and many of those are considered best in the world but still, they’re not touristy. Sound cool enough?

4. It’s cheap. If you want to, then 1 dollar could buy you a basic lunch or dinner. Wandering around and you want to find somewhere to sit and drink? Mostly you don’t have to pay more than one dollar for it.

5. Is travel here convenient? Sure, many companies operate the open bus (good quality in general) and they run almost to every capital cities in the country. Moving around is very easy.

Weather in Vietnam

Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate. Broadly speaking, the weather in Vietnam is dictated by two monsoon seasons — the southwest monsoon from April to September and the northeast monsoon from October to late March or early April.



While people often equate monsoons with rain, that is only partly the case in Vietnam as there are a number of regional variations that affect the rain. What is worth remembering though is the southwest monsoon is hot and the northeast monsoon cool.

The southwest monsoon primarily effects Southern Vietnam — warming up the Mekong Delta through Saigon and all along the coastal strip as far north as between Qui Nhon and Da Nang. It also influences the Central Highlands region.

The northeast monsoon effects the north bringing lower temperatures to Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Sapa and the the coastal strip as far south as around Hue.

Temperatures only drop to what could only be considered cool in Hanoi, the mountainous north and the Central Highlands (in the evening). For the majority of the country, the temperature swings between the mid 20s to low 30s year-round.

Southern Vietnam, including the Mekong Delta, sees most of its rainfall between May and October, peaking in June.

The northern reaches of Central Vietnam see rain from August through to January, with the heaviest falls reserved for September and October which is also typhoon season. The southern coastal region, as far north as between Nha Trang and Qui Nhon, sees the rain start later, Novemberish, but still dropping off in January.

Northern Vietnam gets the wet from May to October, with August being the wettest month. The cooler months of December and January also see heavy mists that can run for days — these can reduce visibility in places like Sapa and Ha Long Bay to frustratingly short distances.

Where is Vietnam located on the world?

Have you ever heard about Vietnam’s location? If you haven’t not heard about it yet, here is the best answer. Vietnam is is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula, in Middle-East Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea – referred to in Vietnam as the East Sea – to the east.

How to be safe when travelling in vietnam

If compare Vietnam with other countries, Vietnam is praised as one of safest, peace country for personal security. However safe it is, you should be aware of some crimes to avoid bad situation during your trip. Here are some safety tips which can helps you when you travel in Vietnam:

Be careful in a crowded area such as local festivals, tourist site… there may have some gambles which you should not join and also pickpockets.


Keep enough money in your pocket and don’t show off it in the public place. Keep the rest on your body. It would be very convenient if you carry the credit or master card. You can withdraw the money in almost big cities and some tourist sites. Remember don’t count your money when you’re standing at ATM, put it in your wallet and check it in a safe place later. With the important document such as passport/visa you can keep it in safety deposit box in the hotels. You should never wear a bag or purse to avoid bag snatchers.

Traffic in Vietnam, especially in big cities such as Hanoi and Saigon is very terrible so be careful when you cross the street.
The best way to cross a road is to wade out into the sea of motorcycles. Walk slow, don’t run suddenly and deliberate and they will try to avoid you. However, don’t try this advice in other cities as you will get run over.

10 places were associated with symbolic of Dragon in Vietnam

Over the length of its long history, many places in Vietnam were associated with symbolic of Dragon – the most holy symbol of the four supernatural creatures (dragon, unicorn, tortoise, and phoenix). The symbol of Dragon was very familiar in cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese for thousands of years ago. So many Vietnam places were associated with symbolic of Dragon in the form of Sino name (Han Nom) or the Sino Vietnamese name (Nom). Here are the top ten typical and widely known places in Vietnam:

1. Thang Long (Former name of Hanoi capital)


Thang Long is the name of the capital of Dai Viet during Ly, Tran, Le, Mac, Le Trung Hung dynasties spanning from 1010 – 1788, now its name is Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam. According to the historical events, in 08/1010, when Emperor Ly Cong Uan moved the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La, he saw a Dragon ascending the Red River. Then he decided change the name of new capital from Dai La to Thang Long which means “Rising Dragon”.

2. Cuu Long river (River of Nine Dragons)


Cuu Long in English means River of Nine Dragons, is the common name of branches of Mekong River flows via Vietnam’s territory and empties into the sea at 9 points (today there are 7). Also, Cuu Long is the name of delta that was created by this river’s alluvium. Today the Mekong Delta was known as a important “rice bowl” and aquiculture of Vietnam. This is a land of unique culture, beautiful natural and abundant tourism potentiality.

3. Halong Bay (“Descending Dragon Bay”)


Halong Bay is a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. It is known as a wonder of nature with unique islands, amazing caves and fascinating beaches. The name HaLong came from the legend that in the foundation of this land, when the Vietnamese had to resist the aggressors, the Jade Emperor commanded Dragon Mother to take her children to help the people. When the boat of aggressors arrived, the dragons spat out their gems and pearls which then turned into thousands of islands in the bay , linking together and become a great wall against the invaders.
When the invaders were killed, the Dragons didn’t return to Heaven, they decided to stay on the earth, where the battle was happened.
The place where the Dragon Mother descended was named Ha Long Bay.

4. Bai Tu Long Bay



Also involved in the legend of Halong Bay, where the children Dragon landed was called Bai Tu Long Bay and the place where the children Dragon wriggled their tails was call Bach Long Vy island.
As a important part of the heritage of Ha Long Bay, with the beautiful island and white long sandy beaches, Bai Tu Long Bay is now attracting more and more foreign tourists to come and relax at beautiful beachside resorts.

Motobike travelling in Vietnam

When coming to Vietnam, beside big cities’ well-known tourism destinations, many foreign travellers love spending their time chasing the wind on the road of the wildly mountainous areas by motorbike. We tell you How and Why!

Reasons for choosing motorbike



Motorbike is considered the best means of transportation for travelling mountainous areas due to its convenience and initiative. With a motorbike, one is free to go wherever he loves, despite all kinds of road’s condition. He can stop whenever he feels like to take photographs or relaxing, instead of depending on the driver or tour guide. Motorbike helps integrating people with nature and fresh air, and one will never be afraid of motion sickness. If choosing a car, people are likely to waste hours sleeping in passenger’s seat with air condition, not to mention the car sick caused by consecutive slopes and mountain passes. Riding on the motorbike means living on every single kilometer of your itinerary! Moreover, one can ride a motorbike in any kind of terrains, and it is much easier to repair in case of breaking down.

Which kind of motorbike and when?

100 cc-or-more semi-automatic motorbikes are all suitable for roads in Northern Vietnam’s mountainous area. The main criteria for choosing motorbike are strong engine, gasoline-saving and flexible packing space.
Weather is one of the most essential issues regarding planning for motorbike trip. The best time for exploring those mighty areas is from late September to the beginning of December or after Tet Nguyen Dan, when there is almost no rain and the temperature is cool. The spring’s rain and summer’s heat in high region somehow are hazardous for health as well as damaging to the road’s quality.

Be well-prepared!

There are indispensable things that one has to bring whenever travelling to remote areas such as specialized clothes and shoes, personal stuff, map, contact information and medical bags. However, a motorbike trip requires more than that. One will have to be well-prepared with a protective helmet and a motorcycle repair tool kit, and of course, certain skills of mending engine. An extra spark-plug and motorbike’s key are always in need. Remember to maintain the whole motorbike before setting off, change the oil and check its tyres, brakes, mirrors, horn and light. Fill up your motorbike with gasoline and know the location of gasoline station!

On the way

If possible, travelling in groups of two or three motorbikes with one experienced leader is advisable. All members of the group are required to have detailed itinerary to get rid the risk of getting lost. People should not ride parallel to each other and talk while controlling the motorbike, thus, stop the bike if feeling a need for a conversation.
Pay attention to the bend and ones driving contrariwise and do not drive into other lane. Sometimes, there may be animals like buffaloes, cows, dogs or even pigs crossing the road, so one should decrease the speed and avoid making them panic. At night or in rain weather, when the vision is limited, travellers had better pause the journey for resting and safety reasons.

Other things to remember

• Do not ride when you feel tired or sleepy.
• Do not ride after drinking alcohol.
• Avoid riding too fast or stop without noticing.
• Observe carefully and pay attention to road signs.
• Bring your identity paper and driving license because there will be police checking along the road ( however, they will not be very strict to foreigners)
• Be extremely careful when crossing the stream; be sure about the depth of the water to have the best arrangement.
• Respect the ethnic minority people and their distinctive culture.
• Protect the environment and always remember: Safe is of primary important.

Five best places to visit in Hanoi Vietnam

Almost all tourists dream about a peaceful and antique Hanoi, however, Hanoi is more than that. The attractiveness is nothing far from the fine combination of natural beauty with ancient colonial architecture and cultural religious features. The lively ambiance also pulls tourists back to the green city. There is no reason for missing out one of below attractions when coming to Hanoi and these places certainly keep you busy for days on end.

Hanoi Old quarter:


As a rule, any tourist coming to Hanoi flocks to The Old quarter right away. The 36 old streets are full of vitality both days and nights. Wandering around the streets seems like losing your way in a maze; the more you discover the streets, the more you find it interesting.

Hoan Kiem Lake:




A fresh atmosphere in the morning and sparkling beauty at night are the very first impressions of tourists about the “Lake of the Restored Sword”. You could easily grasp a stunning view through your lens when walking around the poetic lake. It is also the place in which daily entertaining activities of Hanoians take place, including doing exercises, playing chess and the likes. Having a seat at a bench to contemplate people walking back and forth is one of best way to savor the peaceful atmosphere in Hanoi.

Vietnam museum of Ethnology:


The museum is totally different from other museums in Vietnam, and thus you are supposed not to miss a chance to explore it. More than just a boring museum with symbolic objects exhibited inside large buildings, the museum opens a spacious ambiance full of sunshine and full of vitality. Coming here, you have a golden chance to have a comprehensive knowledge about 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. More interestingly, their houses, their living space as well as their way of living are featured so animated that it comes as no surprise when you feel as if you are part of their community.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum:


It is unusual attraction and somewhat surreal, but interesting indeed. It is a pretty quiet place compared to the hustling and bustling of the city. It is solemn with strict atmosphere. Coming here, you definitely know more about Uncle Ho and how Vietnamese love him. A chance to see the hero of Vietnam in your eyes is worth your time. Most of tourists recommend this place as an absolute must see attraction. Just believe them and the mausoleum will not let you down.

Temple of Literature:



Apart from Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the temple is another place for tourists to get out of all the maddening buzz of the traffic for a while and find the peace in your soul. It is the first university of Vietnam and in the world, perhaps. However, if you have been to a Confucius Temple before, it becomes not as interesting as you expected. Otherwise, it is a nice stop on your city tour of Hanoi worth a visit.

How to buy a motorbike in Vietnam?

Are you planning to go to Vietnam and want to buy a motorbike for your trip? Are you in a divided mind as to what to do? Here is some advice for you that I collected from the internet



Tecalli said:


Hi, unless you have a valid Vietnam motorcycle license (international drivers licenses are not recognized) there is no insurance policy that will cover you. If you drive without a license and have an accident you fall outside the policy guidelines (because you were doing something illegal).

There have been several articles in the news lately about un-pure gas– you buy and put in your tank and end up at the repair shop. So be extra careful where you fill up. Outside of cities, gas stations are not very common.

You should bring your own helmet, as quality ones that will actually protect your head in case of accident are hard to find.

Buying and selling used bikes is pretty common. Head to backpacker areas in HCMC or Hanoi and there will be lots of postings.

Pelicoo said

You can buy a bike from Saigon Minsk which is round the corner from the Crazy Buffalo Bar. We got our bike there for $270, a great little Honda Win which has been holding 2 backpacks and 2 passengers. All you need is a registration card from the seller. He also gave us helmets and a map.

We’ve been paying around 20,800 for gas and you can fill up plastic bottles and attach it to your bike just in case you run out.

If you’re staying in guest houses you can leave your motor inside the building. If you’re travelling from HCMC to the north you’ll be able to sell your bike in Ha Noi… a lot of people do it and that’s our plan for when we get there.

Hope that helps!

sophie_lx said

You can find many hotel in western town in sai gon , which was located in Pham Ngu Lao street or you can find some cheap hotel in alley in western town too , it’s about 15 USD/day, Some guys sell motorbike in there too
I took a part time job in there, so if you need help, feel free to contact.
Hope that helps!

What languages are spoken in Vietnam?

If you haven’t known what is official language in Vietnam, here is the best answer. The official language of Viet Nam is Vietnamese.


Vietnamese (tiếng Việt, or less commonly Việt ngữ) is the national and official language of Vietnam.
In its early history, Vietnamese writing used Chinese characters. In the 13th century, the Vietnamese developed their own set of characters called Chữ nôm. The celebrated epic Đoạn trường tân thanh (Truyện Kiều or The Tale of Kieu) by Nguyễn Du was written in Chữ nôm. During the French colonial period,Quốc ngữ, the romanized Vietnamese alphabet used for spoken Vietnamese, which was developed in 17th century by Jesuit Alexandre De Rhodes and several other Catholic missionaries, became popular and brought literacy to the masses.
Various other languages are spoken by several minority groups in Vietnam. The most common of these are Tày, Mường, Khmer, Chinese, Nùng, and H’Mông. The French language, a legacy of colonial rule, is still spoken by some older Vietnamese as a second language, but is losing its popularity. Vietnam nevertheless remains a full member of La Francophonie.
Russian – and to a much lesser extent German, Czech, or Polish – is sometimes known among those whose families had ties with the Soviet bloc. In recent years, English is becoming more popular as a second language. English study is obligatory in most schools. Chinese and Japanese have also become more popular.

Here is a list of all 107 languages spoken in Viet Nam:

1. Akha 2. Arem 3. Bahnar 4. Brao 5. Bru, Eastern 6. Cao Lan 7. Cham, Eastern 8. Cham, Western 9. Chinese, Yue 10. Chrau 11. Chru 12. Chut 13. Côông 14. Cua 15. En 16. Gelao, Green 17. Gelao, Red 18. Gelao, White 19. Giáy 20. Haiphong Sign Language 21. Halang 22. Halang Doan 23. Hani 24. Hanoi Sign Language 25. Haroi 26. Hmong Daw 27. Hmong Dô 28. Hmong Don

29. Hmong Njua 30. Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language 31. Hre 32. Hung 33. Iu Mien 34. Jarai 35. Jeh 36. Katu, Eastern 37. Katua 38. Kayong 39. Kháng 40. Khao 41. Khmer, Central 42. Khmu 43. Khua 44. Kim Mun 45. Koho 46. Kucong 47. Lachi 48. Lachi, White 49. Laghuu 50. Laha 51. Lahu 52. Lü 53. Maa 54. Maleng 55. Mang 56. Mantsi

57. Mnong, Central 58. Mnong, Eastern 59. Mnong, Southern 60. Monom 61. Muong 62. Ná-Meo 63. Nguôn 64. Nung 65. O’du 66. Pa Di 67. Pacoh 68. Pa-Hng 69. Phu Thai 70. Phula 71. Phuong 72. Puoc 73. Qabiao 74. Rade 75. Rengao 76. Roglai, Cacgia 77. Roglai, Northern 78. Roglai, Southern 79. Romam 80. Sedang 81. Sila 82. Sinicized Miao 83. Stieng, Budeh 84. Stieng, Bulo

85. Sui 86. Tai Daeng 87. Tai Dam 88. Tai Do 89. Tai Dón 90. Tai Hang Tong 91. Tai Thanh 92. Takua 93. Ta’oih, Upper 94. Tày 95. Tay Boi 96. Tày Sa Pa 97. Tày Tac 98. Tho 99. Thu Lao 100. Todrah 101. Trieng 102. Ts’ün-Lao 103. Vietnamese 104. Zhuang, Dai 105. Zhuang, Yang 106. Zhuang, Yongnan 107. Zhuang, Zuojiang

Vietnam: a land of ghosts

In a country where street food is sold beside skyscrapers, sleepy hamlets sit next to shiny hotels and pavement barbers share the boulevards with Gucci, no wonder ancestors reassure the living, says Nigel Richardson.



Selling fish on the Mekong river

Highway 1A runs the length of Vietnam, from the Chinese border in the north to the Mekong Delta in the south. It joins the dissonant cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and, about half way between the two, speeds past an altogether less worldly metropolis – the City of Ghosts. Miss this crazy place if you dare, for it tells you a great deal about modern Vietnam.

The turn-off to the City of Ghosts (a nickname given by foreigners) lies a few miles south of the old imperial city of Hue. As we drove east off 1A in the direction of the South China Sea my guide, Doan Thanh Phong, explained the precept behind what I was about to see. “It is believed, the better you care for the ancestors, the better they will look after you,” he said.

We followed a raised road through rice paddies where villagers were gathering in the harvest in scenes of golden plenty that would have been familiar to Laurie Lee and his Rosie. Suddenly there were tombs in the fields, more and more of them, bigger and bigger, faced in coloured tiles, pinnacled and pagoda’d, as big as bungalows.

Presently the tombs and mausoleums intermingled with the houses, so it became difficult to distinguish between the homes of the living and those of the dead. And this is as it should be in a culture in which ancestors never die, they just move in next door and keep a beady eye on you.

The Vietnamese practise ancestor worship. Amid all the Chinese-style dragons on the mausoleums there were both Christian and Buddhist symbols but the real religion in Vietnam is the veneration of past generations. On this stretch of sandy coastal plain between Hue and Da Nang, near the farming community of Vinh An, it reaches a remarkable pitch of expression.

The vast and riotously kitsch mausoleums we presently came across, forming the heart of the City of Ghosts, were paid for largely by money sent by Vietnamese living abroad, many of whom were the “boat people” of the 1970s and 80s. It’s a peculiarly Vietnamese twist on the process of exiles bettering themselves in the West and helping out their families back in the mother country.

Caught up in a competitive spiral, the size and design of these mausoleums have become increasingly extravagant as families vie to outdo each other. One man we met said his family’s “endless home”, as they are known, had cost $30,000 to build. The City of Ghosts captures something about Vietnam in the 21st century. It is a country anxious to leave behind the conflict and poverty of the last century and embrace material success, yet the past, like the ancestors, is always watching.

Back on Highway 1A, the city of Da Nang – once the site of a huge American garrison – has all but obliterated reminders of what Vietnamese refer to as the American War. “Here were many Viet Cong,” said Phong, whose father worked for the Americans. “They could be ice-cream sellers, or shoeshine boys. They hit” – he made a chopping motion with his hand – “and run away.”

Wide boulevards and shopping malls are edging out the lanes where the VC operated. Along the back of China Beach, where GIs chilled between combat missions, a ribbon of international-style beach resorts and apartments is being built. “Opening 2012″; “Coming soon”; “Luxury condominiums for sale”, shouted the billboards.

The development resumes half an hour’s drive south, around the mouth of the Thu Bon River and the ancient trading port of Hoi An. Here a new resort has been built cheek-by-jowl with the fishing village of Phuoc Hai, where nets are still hauled ashore on creaky wooden bobbins.

An enterprising villager called Tran Van Khoa runs “eco-tours” to give tourists a taste of the old ways of fishing and of life. Taking a group out among the sea-coconut swamps in bamboo coracles, he explained that the construction of the resort had damaged the ecosystem of the river mouth.

The irony was that some of the people on his tour were staying in the resort in question. “I myself feel sad about this but what can we do?” he said. “Tourists come. Money, Western life. It come, come, come. Things change very fast.”

In Hoi An itself, the solution to this onslaught of modernity is to pretend nothing has changed. The city, in the words of Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront, “coulda been a contender”. In the mid-18th century, it was one of the principal trading ports of south-east Asia. Silk, weapons and spices from East and West passed through its riverfront warehouses. But the river silted up and became unnavigable to trading vessels and Hoi An, instead of turning into a Hong Kong or Shanghai, faded to backwater status.

In 1991, Phong recalled, there was just one hotel. Even a decade ago, when he worked as an interpreter here on the film set of The Quiet American, it was relatively sleepy. Now, though it pretends to be a town untouched by progress, there are more than 500 hotels and every one of the old wooden traders’ houses lining the three streets of the original port sells made-to-measure silks or “Good Morning Vietnam” T-shirts or Cuba libres at happy hour prices.

If it’s not careful, this time-capsule of hanging baskets and artful dilapidation will wake up one day soon and find itself a theme park. But for now the illusion of stepping back in time is marvellously agreeable as you while away a couple of days strolling, shopping and eating in some fine restaurants.

A measure of how sanitised it has become is that motorcycles are banned from central Hoi An at certain times of day, which is a bit like taking the yellow cabs out of Manhattan. For the street itself is Vietnam.

In Hanoi I had taken a one-hour cyclo tour of the French Quarter and the old town. Seated up front on my chromium perch I was inched out into busy junctions with all the vim of a snail. Yet the motorbikes and limos flowed around us as if we weren’t there and I realised I had been hasty in my initial judgment. The traffic of Hanoi is not crazy. It shows Confucian respect for its most vulnerable brother, the push bike. After all, everyone was on bicycles once, and not so long ago.

It was a strange feeling, as if those tree-lined boulevards, like tropical echoes of towns in the Languedoc, and the frenetic streets of the old quarter, were rivers and streams, the buildings dry land. Past the custard-and-cream Opera House we bobbed, past the noodle-soup sellers and their fragrant wafts, past the pavement barbers, the Gucci store and the entrance to the Club de l’Oriental, in parallel reality to the metallic madness around us.

It was such a surprisingly pleasant experience that I had planned to take a cyclo tour of Ho Chi Minh City when I got there, but I was warned off the idea by someone in Hanoi – they rip you off there being the gist of it. This, in retrospect, was an amusing observation since practically the first thing my guide in Ho Chi Minh pointed out was how tricky they were up north.

“Hanoi people think southerners followed the enemy,” she told me. “Four times I was overcharged when I was there. Four times! People here are much more open.”

Ho Chi Minh City is certainly a much more self-consciously international city. It has its obligatory alpha-male skyscraper and a glitzy city-within-a-city – private hospital, Porsche showroom and so on – for Western expats mainly. South of the city, toll roads, expressways and vast new bridges are promising to revolutionise the economy of the hitherto dirt-poor Mekong Delta, where peasants still live in illegally built tin and palm-thatch hovels. Whether they will benefit from a huge “entertainment complex” called Happyland that is due to open on their doorstep in the next year or two is doubtful.

Seeing such things, you feel the ancestors begin a slow roll in their extraordinary graves that can only gather momentum over the coming years. But their Vietnam, the Land of Ghosts, remains tangible in a thousand sensory experiences: rice paddies viewed from above, exquisite as the movement of a pocketwatch; the mingled smell of durian and street food on a riverfront in the Mekong Delta, and the old lanes of Hoi An after 9pm, when the electric lights are switched off and the shadows turn to spirits for your final stumble to bed.

Ha Long Bay revisited

In February of this year, one of Vietnam’s most popular destinations, Halong Bay, received the worst possible publicity when an excursion boat sank, killing 12 tourists, including one Briton. In September 2009, five tourists, including two from Britain, died when an excursion boat went down in a storm. These tragedies came as no surprise to critics of this increasingly competitive and crowded market.

Halong Bay is one of the world’s most striking natural wonders – a surreal seascape of conical limestone islands and dreamy emerald waters, three hours’ drive from Hanoi. Tourist agencies in Hanoi’s old town vie with each other to sell often ludicrously cheap all-in deals that include transfers from and back to the city and a night or two aboard a replica junk. The boat that sank in February did so at night, while at anchor. According to reports, the captain and chief engineer face lengthy jail terms for negligence and the boat company has been fined and suspended. The authorities are also claiming that safety procedures have been tightened up on all boats, but why take the chance?

At the dirt-cheap end of the market, the Halong Bay tours continue to be a dispiriting, conveyor-belt experience. It is definitely worth paying more if you can afford it, for both safety and comfort. I avoided Halong Bay altogether and booked a one-night/two-day tour of the Bai Tu Long islands a little way to the east. The scenery of limestone peaks – including caves and a floating fishing village – is every bit as spectacular, the waters were far less crowded and the boat itself, the luxurious Red Dragon 1, was extremely impressive, with five air-conditioned cabins, great food and delightful and competent staff.

After an eight-course lunch that included hot and sour seafood soup, grilled clams and pan-fried squid, I was free to relax on a sunbed with a cold beer and work out what it was exactly that these remarkable views made me think of. It took another beer to get there: Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky.

Travel tips for visitors during Hue festivals

With the coming back of Hue Festival to mark the national tourism year 2012, Hue is entering the most amazing time, when tourists from all over the world are flooding into the city to celebrate the event. How can you make the most of your time and money when coming to this former imperial capital of Vietnam. Here are a few tips for you to keep in mind:

Hue festival 2012

Getting in and out

From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, passengers can approach Hue by bus, air, train or even by motorbikes, a speciality of Vietnam transportation.

By train

Tickets on the Reunification Express Train from Hanoi to Hue should cost between $25 and 45 (ticket price varies based on seating options) , and from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue between $35 and $60. Hue train station is a straight 40 minute walk to most of backpacker hotels, the best of which are listed under ‘Accommodation’ below.

Ticket can be directly purchased from railway station office or online. Travellers are advised to bring water bottles enough for drinking and washing hands. Fast food is another recommendation in case meals offered by train officer may not suit your taste.

By bus

The times around Vietnamese holidays are particularly flooded with ticket bookings and tickets cannot be assumed available for same day travel, so book ahead if possible.

One of the most reliable and foreigner-friendly open bus ticket services is The Sinh Tourist. Its offices are located near backpacker havens in Hanoi (40 Luong Ngoc Quyen St., Hoan Kiem Dist. and 64 Tran Nhat Duat St.). Tourists coming to Hue from Ho Chi Minh City can reach to 246-248 De Tham St. Dist.1 and 24-26 Pho Duc Chinh St., Dist. 1 for bus ticket.

Buying bus tickets from the bus station may not be a wise choice, as they are sold out quickly when the Festival is approaching, and some private bus operators are not clear about prices. Count on a good travel agency to snap up tickets first to you.

By air

For those interested in getting to Hue by airplane, Vietnam Airlines is only one among many options. Beware that their tickets are usually sold out very quickly before the festival time. Another choice is Jetstar, which operates two flights a day from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Hue. Booking online conveniently is available from both carriers.

Hue airport is 15 kilometers away from the city center and a ride by taxi between the two points should cost no more than 180,000VND by taxi.

If plane tickets from those above cities to Hue are sold out, opt for Da Nang as the intermediary destination, as it has more connections. From Da Nang to Hue with distance of 112 km, taxi fare is around USD40 and prestigious taxi groups such as Mai Linh, Thanh Hung are recommended.

Accommodation in Hue in festival time

With a wide range of accommodation facilities in Hue, you don’t have to worry about rooms being fully booked. There are plenty of budget traveler hotels and mid-range hotels, as well as a couple of hotel splurge on offer. The largest cluster is around the short lane of Pham Ngu Lao (including Le Loi, Hung Vuong, Chu Van An, Nguyen Cong Tru).

Some top choices of Hue accommodation available are as follows:

For budget ones, Hue Backpacker’s Hostel, 10 Pham Ngu Lao Street, (from US$6), Bamboo Hotel, 61 Hung Vuong (from US$10) and Bao Son Hotel, 39 Nguyen Cong Tru (from US$10) may be what you are looking for.

Mid-range ones can be considered are Hanh Dat Hotel, 15 Pham Van Dong St. Vy Da, Thua Thien Hue (from US$25), New Star Hotel, 36 Chu Van An street (from US$45), and Thai Y Hotel Hue, No 10 Pham Van Dong (from US$17-35).

For splurge one, La Residence, 5 D Le Loi (walking distance from the train station) (from US$136) and Saigon Morin, 30 Le Loi Street (from US$100) can be good choices.

Get Around

Like other Vietnamese cities, Hue is flooded with various means of transportations, namely taxi, motor bike and bicycle for hire and cyclo.

By Taxi

Usually taxi trips start at 15,000 dong for the first 2km and tick upward at 11,500 dong/km. Some well-established taxi brands are Mai Linh, Thành Đô and Thành Hưng. Make sure you will not take an unlicensed one or you maybe overcharged beyond your imagination.

By Bike

During the peak hours of the festival, taxis may not always be available. Your safe bet is to hire a motorbike, which are available for $5/day from hotels and shops and join the locals as they swarm across the bridges and along the main roads at a leisurely pace.

Cycling is also a good option, with plenty of bikes available for $1/day. Shops that hire motor bikes and bicycles are located along Hung Vuong street and the backpacker haven surrounding Pham Ngu Lao and Chu Van An street.

By Cyclo

Be prepared to haggle for reasonable prices and if possible, agree absolutely on your price before you go. The generally acceptable price is 50,000 VND per hour, and make sure that you’re agreeing on Dong, not USD, as some cyclo drivers are dishonest and will secretly charge you USD instead of Dong.

Prepare your bargaining skill

There are abundant pretty things available for tourists to choose, most of them are handy craft things and for those who are interested in gastronomy, street food in Hue is worth a try. However, the merchants there tend to quote price indiscriminately and therefore as a rule of thumb, don’t be afraid to negotiate down to ½ to 1/3 of the quoted price.

Discover the royalty gastronomy at Hue Festival

Hue’s gastronomy discovery is among the most appealing programs of Hue Festival, promising to bring about the unforgettable exotic experiences to tourists.

Coming to Hue Festival, tourists will have a chance to try the taste of all delicious Vietnamese specialties, from the North to the South. There is a wide range of culinary choices to meet every preference and request.

Hue vegetarian culinary festival

Vegetarian food in Hue

Visiting Hue on special occasions you may have chances to taste the finest banquets of delicacies such as fermented peacock roll, phoenix pies, lean pork paste, chicken, lobster, fried fishes, in attractive presentation and all made from vegetables and roots.

Hue vegetarian cuisine is touted as a visual art and Hue’s chefs are talented craftsmen that sculpt tiny statues of chicken, bird or fishes from special materials like tofu, wheat flour, mochi, or tapioca. Furthermore, Hue’s vegetarian cuisine involves a superb level of installation art that utilize the natural hues of a variety of vegetables, bulbs and fruits, topped with vegetarian oil and soy sauce, creating vivid edible pieces of art that will make your mouth water.

Vegetarian foods have become so popular with Hue people that restaurants serving this type of food are springing up like mushrooms after rain. From monks to non-believers; elderlies to youngsters, all eat vegetarian foods frequently since they are rich in nutrition and delicious.

During the festival, gourmets may easily find vegetarian foods at restaurants on Nguyen Dinh Chieu or Phan Boi Chau Street, food stalls inside Đông Ba Market, mouthwatering banquets on offer at the Hue Festival’s “Royal Night” or at any pagodas (Hồng Ân Pagoda and Kiều Đàm Pagoda for example) for the most authentic taste of the food.

Hue street-foods on Nguyen Dinh Chieu culinary street

Hue street food

Following the success of Gia Hoi culinary street during Hue Festival 2008 and Hue Jobs Festival 2011, Hue authorities in association with Saigon Mori Hotel and ATA Architectural Company Ltd. has elevated Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street from a mere walking road to be a culinary and entertainment venue for local people and tourists at the weekends and Hue Festival 2012.

Previously a quiet street which only becomes lively during early morning thanks to people doing early exercise, Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street is especially crowded during festival times with a lot of amazing gastronomical and social activities. Opening for all 9 days of the event, the street gives all gourmets golden chances to taste quintessence of Central and Northern delicacies like Cháo Hến, Bánh Bèo, Bánh Ít, Bánh Ướt, Gỏi Xoài Bò Khô, Bánh Cuốn Nam Bộ, Ốc Nướng Muối Tiêu Cần Thơ, etc at incredibly cheap prices starting from US$0.5 to maximum of US$3.5 per dish.

Hue Royal Gastronomy in Royal Night

Hue royal meal time reproduction

Royal Night taking place on 10 and 13 April, is expected to be the most favorite program of Hue Festival this year, held on the vast area of Hue Citadel (Đại Nội) – the main stage for the most exciting activities, including art performances, Hue’s traditional music shows, calligraphy giving, traditional games, and especially Hue’s night royal banquets.

Contrary to popular misperception, Hue royal foods are made from ordinary ingredients, but thanks to the skillful hands of the chefs, each royal dish is craftily plated up to appeal to gourmets.

During the royal night, attendees may taste the four dishes that represent the four celestial animals (dragon, unicorn, tortoise and phoenix). Dragon is steamed carp with ginger, onion, sweet soy sauce decorated with pointy bamboo like its horns and five-color pigment and golden paper for its tail. Similarly, unicorn is actually simmered pork leg with bamboo sprout and is also decorated with pointy bamboo and other ornaments. Tortoise is braised pigeon while phoenix is steamed with 8 ingredients, decorated similarly to the other two dishes.

Ao dai Vietnam

The most popular and widely-recognized national costume of Vietnam, the Ao Dai is a symbol to show the national pride. It leaves a lasting impression to anyone who comes and visit the place. Pronounced differently in varying parts of the country, ‘ow yai’ for most of the places in the South, and ‘ow zai’ in the North, it literally means “Long Dress”. With a contoured top flowing over loose-fitting trousers that reach the sole of the feet and brushing the floor, the dress style virtually drapes the whole body in soft flowing fabric. But having splits in the gown extending above the waist makes movement easy and comfortable. Though there are many variations in color and collar designs, the dress follows its typical two-piece garment design of top-fitting full-length tunic with high collar splitting into a front and back panel from the waist down. It looks very similar to the Chinese Qipao, which appears as a long gown worn over silk pants, and has slits on both sides as well.

Ao dai Vietnam

Generally, the Vietnamese dress conservatively. The whole ensemble of Ao Dai exudes grace, modesty and beauty. Such symbolism have been rooted from Vietnam’s history and over time, the dress, along with what it represents have transcended all ages and Vietnamese from all walks of life continued to embrace it. Though the costume is intended both for men and women, the men wear it less, except for important occasion such as weddings and funerals. How the dress amazingly flatters any figure would easily make women feel comfortable and confident donning this beautiful piece of garment. The dress, mostly made from the finest silk or carefully chosen fabrics, is not only appealing to the eyes, but ensures comfort and freedom of movement.

The color of one’s Ao Dai is an indication of the age and status of the Vietnamese woman. Mostly, younger women wear white Ao Dais to symbolize their youthfulness and purity. They wear more pastel shades as they grow older but stay unmarried. Married women can don the rich, stronger shades. Certain colors are worn for worship and ritual ceremonies, e. g. blue, purple and brown. But the ones in more intricate patterns and designs are a popular choice of Vietnamese women for special occasions. And at weddings, national festivals and especially during Tet, this beautiful outfit is widely seen. Today, it has become a standard attire for office workers, hotel staff, receptionists and airline attendants, but a lot of women use it as an everyday outfit.

The tradition of clothing holds a long history dated back to 1744 when China’s imperial courts dictate what women should wear. The dress itself had several versions back then and it wasn’t only until 1930 when the dress appeared similarly to today’s Ao Dais. As every trend has its ups and downs, the Ao Dai itself almost went out of fashion during 1954 in the North and in 1975 in the South. But it regained its popularity over time – thanks to the likes of Prada, Giorgio Armani and other big names in the fashion industry. How they reinvented the Ao Dai and sported the beautiful dress into runways acquainted the whole world with the trend’s remarkable flair.

Designers constantly experiment with the fashion, fusing different materials and injecting newer looks into the design, but the totality of the Ao Dai remained an undying beauty and symbol of a strong and colorful culture. How it brings out the best of anyone who dons the garment, the Ao Dai is now widely recognized by women from all parts of the world. Modern fashion ideas are slowly incorporated into the trend, yet retaining its richness in Vietnamese culture. No matter how fashion designers try to recreate and breathe newer looks into the dress, comfort is never compromised as this, along with beauty, is the main attraction of the Ao Dai. Whatever change they try to incorporate to this trend, the dress remains conservative, and perhaps, wearing it more fitted is the sexiest a woman can go with it.

Reflecting the grace and elegance of Vietnamese women, it is an outfit that will always be fashionable and beautiful. No matter how many new trends will be introduced into Vietnam’s fashion mainstream, the Ao Dai remains a timeless classic no time, age, or season can dictate.

Vietnamese Restaurant in Hoi An

Thi Nhan Restaurant

Address: 128 Cua Dai, Cam Chau, Hoi An

Thi Nhan Restaurant is located on half way from Hoi An Ancient Town to Cua Dai Beach. If you intend to try tasting seafood, you are suggested to get yourself to Thi Nhan Restaurant during your stay in Hoi An. Two famous sea foods can be listed in the restaurant menu such as grilled tiger prawns and crab in tamarind sauce.

Old street in Hoi an Vietnam

Lighthouse Cafe & Restaurant  

Address: Cam Nam Island, Hoi An

Away from the bustle of the food market in the ancient town, traveling to Cam Nam Island, you can reach Lighthouse Café & Restaurant. Here, you will enjoy the authentic Viet dishes with a touch of Dutch cheese, ice cream & Apple Cake. Lighthouse Cafe and Restaurant brings you a romantic dinner or leisurely lunch with a lovely view.

Mermaid Restaurant

Address: 7 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An Ancient Town

The Vietnamese food here is regarded as among the best in Vietnam. Coming to Mermaid restaurant, you will be well-served with the delicious food, the modern facilities and the hospitable staff. Some food you can call for your meal such as tuna steak, green mango salad and prawn curry in a clay pot. Excellent food and cheap drinks of cocktail beer are also catered in this restaurant.

Ly Cafeteria

Address: 22 Nguyen Hue Street, Hoi An Ancient Town

Owned by Ms Ly, Ly Cafeteria is something different from other restaurant in the ancient town of Hoi An. You can have chance to enjoy some Ly’s special grilled pork, “big” prawn spring rolls, green papaya salad, omelet, pancakes and Cao Lau.

Bong Hong Trang (White Rose)

Address: 533 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hoi An Ancient Town

For four generations, the Tran family has developed local delicacies. Great grandfather Tran invented the white rose. The grandfather added fried wantons and the mother developed the sweet & sour sauce to cover them. Today they still serve only these two dishes. Perhaps, you try the two dishes in other restaurants might sell them, but surely you will find the best here. This restaurant is also a must for any visitor to Hoi An.

Bale Well Down

Address: on the corner of Tran Hung Dao & Le Loi Street, Hoi An Ancient Town

Bale well is one of the Ancient Town’s hidden secrets. Here you are pleased to be served a menu with BBQ shish pork, country pancakes, spring rolls, salad and dipping sauce.

Cafe 19 

Address: 19 Tieu La Street, Hoi An

Cafe 19 is very popular with ex-pats, domestic and especially foreign tourists who want to get something local. The menu has a wide array of Vietnamese dishes & a large vegetarian offering. They serve seafood, pork, chicken & beef dishes. Besides, the local Hoi An specialties like Cao Lau & White Rose are the cheapest you will find in the ancient town. Particularly, you will be fascinated while seeing the wall being adorned with happy customers who have bonded with the owners & enjoyed a cooking class.